Hoverclock For Linux

There are many reasons why you might want to have a desktop clock. Maybe you like clean-looking desktops with top bars (or other UI) elements that automatically hide, maybe you're bored of the default clock on your computer's OS, or maybe you want to add a bit of style to your desktop.

It's good, then, that there are tons of good desktop clock apps out there. Hoverclock is one such application, a straightforward yet surprisingly customizable floating desktop clock for Linux.

Hoverclock is built around the XCB library and uses FontConfig and Freetype libraries for font rendering, which is exactly why it's super lightweight.

In fact, Hoverclock is basically a new rewrite based on the Hoverclock-Qt app built by the same developer. According to the project's GitHub page, "It is a very lightweight alternative to Hoverclock-Qt with around 1500% better memory efficiency."

I really appreciate the simplicity of the application. There's no fancy UI elements, and no menus, it's a perfect example of a WYSIWYG app - just a simple digital "floating" clock for the desktop.

Still, I appreciate the customization options even more. Don't expect anything fancy, but if you want to change the UI opacity, its position on the screen (top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right), the time format, the date format, and the vertical padding, then you won't be disappointed.

Last but not least, you can also change the time font and the date font, as well as the stroke color and stroke thickness.

There you have it, a totally non-impressive "floating" desktop clock for Linux. It's not the only app of this sort, and it's most probably not the best out there, but if this type of app appeals to you, then sure, give it a try.